Few romances are as enduring as Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson's. Though it's evolved many times and in many ways, they have a healthy and loving partnership. Even when their romance is placed on the back burner, or nonexistent, Nightwing and Batgirl are close friends with amazing chemistry.
These days, "DickBabs" or "Babson" is going strong. Still, even if life throws the two heroes a curveball, which it regularly does, fans can rest assured Nightwing and Batgirl will make their way back to one another eventually. Plus, in moments of uncertainty, readers can always enjoy the couple's whole romantic history.
19 Batgirl Was Introduced In 1961
In an effort to encourage more women to buy Batman comics, DC introduced Batgirl into the mix in 1961 through Detective Comics #359, written by Gardner Fox with pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Side Greene, and letters by Gaspar Saladino.
On her way to a costume party in a Batman outfit, Barbara Gordon witnesses some Moth-men attacking Bruce Wayne and steps in to help. As the story progresses, she teams up with the Dynamic Duo to stop Killer Moth, but not without their initial pushback. Both Batman and Robin are dismissive of "Batgirl" and her abilities until she demonstrates her skills by saving them from one of Killer Moth's traps.
18 Dick and Babs Share Their First Kiss in 1975
In Batman Family #1, written by Elliot S. Maggin with art by Mike Grell, Dick Grayson is working as a temporary aide for Barbara Gordon, who's recently been elected to Congress. In the comic, a man claiming to be Benedict Arnold threatens the Pentagon, leading Batgirl and Robin to team up in D.C. Unaware they're colleagues in their non-heroic lives as well, they earn themselves the shared title: "Dynamite Duo."
At the end of the issue, Robin condescends Batgirl and tells her to hang up the cape and cowl, and to shut him down, she kisses him. The kiss was controversial upon first publication since Gordon was in her mid-twenties and Grayson was college-age at the time. Regardless, the smooch had its intended effect and rendered Grayson speechless.
17 Batgirl And Robin Learn Each Other's Secret Identities In 1976
Both in Provincetown when a dinosaur attacks the coastal city, Barbara and Dick suit up as Batgirl and Robin in Batman Family #3, written by Elliot S. Maggin with art by J.L. Garcia Lopez and Vince Colletta. They rush to protect P-town's inhabitants from a whole slew of villains, only to discover they're battling illusions.
Given their shared appearance in the capital two issues before, both the "Flame-Haired Huntress" and the Teen Wonder put two and two together. At the end of the issue, they confirm one another's secret identities.
16 They Get Married For The First Time In 1977
The organization, Maze, plots to marry and then murder Batgirl and Robin in Batman Family #11, written by Bob Rozakis with art by Curt Swan and Vince Colletta. The two play along with the scheme, ultimately revealing they set the whole thing up to trap and arrest members of Maze.
In the epilogue, Dick and Babs reveal the details of their plan to readers, including Dick disguising himself as an older man. He dons the disguise again to demonstrate its efficacy, and Barbara tells him, "You're quite attractive as an older man," which unknowingly foreshadows the inverse of a future retcon.
15 Grayson Catches Feelings In 1977
Before defeating the Outsider together in Batman Family #13 – written by Bob Rozakis with art by Don Newton, Marshall Rogers, and Bob Wiacek – Batgirl and Robin go to Titans Tower to gather intel. Barbara lies down on the couch to rest before taking on the villain.
Robin takes the opportunity to tell Batgirl how he feels. He acknowledges their age difference but confesses he has real feelings for Batgirl. However, he soon discovers she's fallen asleep—or so he thinks! In 2007's Nightwing Annual, a retconned younger Babs reveals she was only pretending to be asleep and in fact heard his whole confession.
14 "Crisis On Infinite Earths" In 1985 And 1986 Sets The Stage For The Pair's Romance
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The first major crossover in DC's canon, Crisis On Infinite Earths, written by Marv Wolfman with art by George Pérez, consolidated and updated the company's numerous and previously-unrelated lines. Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson are no exception, though Babs' transformation into her post-Crisis incarnation is more dramatic.
Not only does Babs debut as the uber-talented, brilliantly intelligent Oracle in the post-Crisis Suicide Squad line, but she is also younger as well. The absence of any age gap between her and Dick sets the stage for their real, honest-to-goodness romance.
12 Oracle And Nightwing Kiss In 1999
Set after the events of The Judas Contract and The Killing Joke, Nightwing #38 – written by Chuck Dixon with art by Scott McDaniel – sees Dick as Nightwing and Barbara as Oracle. During the comic, Grayson sustains an injury and develops an infection while infiltrating Blackgate Prison. As a result, he returns to Barbara's place to recuperate.
During dinner one night, Dick implies he'd like to date Barbara. She says she's not ready as she is still coming to terms with her disability, but the two kiss for the first time in a post-Crisis world and eventually begin dating seriously.
11 Dick And Barbara Call It Quits In 2004
After dating for a while, Barbara breaks up with Dick in Nightwing #87, written by Devin Grayson with art by Rick Leonardi, citing his unwillingness to live in the present, his overprotectiveness, and his Batman-esque mentality. This breaks his heart but forces him to reevaluate his priorities and behavior.
In spite of the misery of their breakup, it's clear Barbara and Dick love each other immensely. Barbara asks Dick point-blank what he loves about her, and he does not hold back, saying, "You're stunning and you're brilliant and you're probably the strongest person I know...inside where it really counts...one look at you and my heart catches in my throat, my body flushes with heat...I've always loved you."
10 They Get Engaged During 2006's "Infinite Crisis"
In Nightwing #117, written by Devin Grayson with art by Bradley Walker as part of the Infinite Crisis event, Dick apologizes to Barbara for the way he treated her when they were together. Before he leaves to "try and save the Universe," he asks her to marry him.
Barbara agrees, and Dick thankfully survives the ordeal. The two reunite when Dick winds up back in Barbara's care following a medically induced coma.
9 They Place Their Engagement On Hold in 2007
A year after the Infinite Crisis in Nightwing Annual #2 – written by Marc Andreyko with art by Joe Bennett – Barbara coaches Dick on how to regain his strength and skill as he recovers from a battle with Deathstroke. Dick reiterates his desire to share his future with her, but Bruce asks Dick to join him and Tim Drake on a trip abroad so they can spend time as a family.
Babs returns the engagement ring to Dick and pushes him to go with Bruce. Grayson complies, but not before giving her the ring again and promising he'll come back to her.
8 They Get Married Again In 2015
Set in a pre-Flashpoint universe, Dick asks Barbara to marry him in the first issue of the Nightwing/Oracle Convergence, which was written by Gail Simone with art by Jan Duursema. Babs initially refuses as she's worried about Gotham's ongoing issues and her emotional state.
However, after they defeat Hawkman and Hawkwoman of another world, who are threatening to take over Gotham, Gordon changes her tune and she and Grayson are married within the issue. It's attended by several notable guests, including Black Canary, the Flash, and Superman. The lace in Barbara's dress is in the very fitting pattern of a circuit board.
7 2016's "Rebirth" Resets Barbara And Dick
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Little changes for Barbara and Dick from the end of the New 52 to the beginning of the Rebirth lines. However, the main continuity is decidedly post-Flashpoint, so the two are no longer married. In fact, the two are casually dating in the first issue of the Nightwing Rebirth line, written by Tom Seeley with Art by Javier Hernandez. After Selina Kyle leaves Bruce Wayne at the altar, Gordon and Grayson take advantage of the Cat and the Bat's honeymoon suite in Batgirl #25, written by Paul Dini, Mairghread Scott, and Marguerite Bennett, with art by Paul Pelletier, Tom Derenick, Dan Panosian, and Emanuela Lupacchin. Though they agree not to get serious (yet), there's a sense they're the other's endgame.
5 They Get Married And Annul It In 2020's Dark Nights: Death Metal
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During Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe #1, written by Cecil Castelucci with art by Mirka Andolfo, Barbara and Dick have a shotgun wedding and promise one another they'll annul their marriage if they survive. Batman sarcastically officiates, and Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson tie the knot for the third time in their shared history.
Fortunately, both the heroes survive the event and resume a more platonic relationship, if only temporarily. Dick returns to Blüdhaven and Barbara to Gotham, but Alfred's death eventually brings them back together.
3 In 2021 They Adopt A Puppy Together
Patrolling the streets of Blüdhaven one night in Nightwing #78, written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo, Grayson comes upon a gang torturing a little tripod puppy. He fends them off and takes the pooch to the vet before returning home to find Barbara waiting for him.
Babs is visiting Blüdhaven to administer Alfred's will, but she immediately falls in love with the doggie, whom she and Grayson name Haley. Haley technically starts out as Dick's dog (hence her alias, "Bitewing"), but both Babs and Dick refer to the canine companion as "ours." Shortly after Haley's arrival, her humans rekindle their romance.
2 Dick Says Those Three Little Words In 2022
Barbara is instrumental in facilitating Dick's affordable housing project, "Haven," even when crooked cops and crime bosses repeatedly try to prevent its development. In Nightwing #93, written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo, Barbara works some of her coding magic and shows Dick a cross-referenced list of bad guys who have attacked "Haven." Dick is so impressed and grateful that he offhandedly confesses, "I love you."
Though both are surprised at the admission and Babs ribs him for it, she doesn't seem upset by it. However, she's yet to verbalize that she returns the sentiment, although may at some point sometime in the near future.
1 The Future Looks Bright For Dick And Babs
Barbara, who is still reticent about labeling their relationship, seems to be coming around to the idea of dating her longtime friend in earnest. The ongoing conflicts in the Nightwing line are numerous, but Dick and Babs' relationship isn't among them.
Dick's own apartment building and the progress on the Haven housing project are currently destroyed. Luckily for him, there's no doubt he'll be able to crash with his maybe (definite) girlfriend while they work out a plan to restore Haven.